While we were still using dial-up to connect to a bare internet on our small, curved cathode ray tube screens nearly 20 years ago, the U.S. Access Board issued Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act to make sure the content that could be found with this technology would be available to people with disabilities. At…
Patrick of Ireland: The Boy Who Forgave, by K. C. Murdarasi
Who was the real St Patrick? Strip away the myths to discover what we really know about the late Roman figure Patricius. Kidnapped by Irish raiders as a teenager, Patrick spent several years as a slave before escaping back to Britain – and suffering a shipwreck en route. As if that wasn’t enough adventure for…
Becoming an Agile Law Firm: Sometimes Smaller is Better
Facing off with a BigLaw behemoth can be intimidating. They have very deep pockets. They have a firmly established image and, quite possibly, an intimidating legacy. But don’t think for a second that they are necessarily better equipped than you—especially when it comes to offering clients the efficiency they demand. Often, finding the most efficient…
Five Tips to Network Efficiently
One aspect of being an attorney that is often overlooked is networking. As a solo practitioner myself, networking has become a key aspect of my job because it allows me to consistently grow my practice and obtain more, valuable leads for clients. In my experience, I’ve found that when someone comes to me as a…
Digital Dictation and Transcription Primer
Managing time can be a challenge in the best of circumstances, and the changing dynamics of the profession in recent years only seems to be making matters worse. While lawyers employ many strategies to deal with the time crunch, dictation is one of the most traditional—and for good reason. When used carefully, dictation allows lawyers…
Confidential Data Leak: 90% Say It’s Happened to Them
If your small law firm had been hacked or leaked confidential data, what are the consequences to you? According to a September 2014 study by the Ponemon Institute, 90% of American businesses have experienced a leakage or loss of sensitive or confidential documents within the prior 12 months. Moreover, an average 31% of businesses’ confidential…
Pocketful of Rainbows – A Parable of Hope, by Francis J. Shaw
There was no getting around it. Stripes don’t make you a tiger…Decision made. He would stay in the safety of the shadows, protected by the anonymity of being introverted, average, and best of all, unknown. But on the eve of his thirteenth birthday and fighting to hold back his restless demons, Perry needs a new…
Ethical Pitfalls in Social Media Research, Discovery, and Communications
The New York City and State Bars,30 the Philadelphia Bar31 and the San Diego County Bar32 Associations have provided a number of relevant Discovery of Social Media guidance opinions surrounding issues related to performing research using social media. General Research First, it is perfectly acceptable to search and access social media sites that are freely accessible. The New York Guidance…
Technology and Your Practice: The Double-Edged Sword
Many attorneys are integrating at least some new technology into their practice. If they are doing it the right way, this can be a great tool. There are, however, a lot of pitfalls you need to look out for when integrating technology. TL;DR To sum it all up, if you are going to use technology in…
Three Steps To Follow When Selecting A Vendor
So, you need a new vendor? We lawyers are overrun with emails, phone calls, and convention-based sales pitches. There are too many offers out there to make any sense of anything at all. Which means that when your office has a need, there are several concrete steps to take before committing to a particular vendor….